FtCollins Wayfinding Best Practices Memo 28Apr2015In addition, an effective wayfinding system...

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MEMORANDUM

To: Tessa Greegor, City of Fort Collins

From: Josh Mehlem, Alta Planning + Design

Date: April 28, 2015

Project: Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan

Subject: Wayfinding Best Practices Memo

This memo summarizes best practices and general signage guidelines associated with a

community bicycling wayfinding system plan, building on the recommendations from the 2014

Fort Collins Bicycle Master Plan. The recommendations below take into consideration findings

from applicable research, existing precedents, and policy pertaining to wayfinding signage.

These best practices will be a guide for the placement and design of a wayfinding system and

will be incorporated into the overall Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan document.

The following best practices are described with respect to wayfinding principles, sign family

elements, placement recommendations, and destination prioritization. This review aims to

explain what is involved in effective wayfinding using well-researched and proven practices.

Core Wayfinding Principles The legibility of a place describes how easy it is to understand. Places that are arranged

intuitively so that we can see obvious destinations from a distance, determine pathways, and

recognize areas of different character are more legible. Logical wayfinding in the case of Fort

Collins means an individual is capable of easily and successfully finding their way to their

destination, able to understand where they are with respect to other key locations, and that

they can orient themselves in an appropriate direction with little effort or stress.

In addition, an effective wayfinding system presents opportunities to discover new places and

services and includes a consistent approach to placement and design working within local,

state, and federal guidelines. The choices of sign materials, dimensions, colors, and forms

should be cohesive to enhance legibility and community identity. Similarly, maps should

employ consistent symbology, fonts, colors, and style.

In order to achieve a more navigable bicycle network, five core principles define the

navigational goals of the Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan. These principles are based on

best practices for creating a clear wayfinding experience.

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2 | Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan

1 : Connect Places

Effective wayfinding information should assist both locals and visitors to travel between

destinations as well as discover new destinations and services accessible by bicycle. It has the

capacity to improve local economic wellbeing by encouraging locals to utilize services within

their own neighborhood or city. By being a reflection of local community values, wayfinding

elements can also cultivate a sense of pride in one’s community resulting in a deeper

connection to place.

2 : Promote Active Travel

Wayfinding is a natural extension of existing efforts to encourage more bicycling by creating a

clear and attractive system that is easy to navigate. Whether advertising directly to people

traveling by bicycle or indirectly to passing vehicles, the system should encourage use by

being both attractive and effortless to use and understand.

3 : Maintain Motion

Cycling requires physical effort. Frequent stopping and starting to check directions may lead

to frustration. Wayfinding information that can be quickly comprehended contributes to

bicycling enjoyment. Consistent, clear, and visible wayfinding elements allow bicyclists to

navigate while maintaining movement.

4 : Be Predictable

When information is predictable, it can be quickly understood and recognized. Predictability

should relate all aspects of wayfinding information, from the placement of a sign, to the design

and its contents. It also means that new situations are quickly understood. Once users trust

that they will encounter consistent and predictable information, their level of comfort is raised

and new journeys become easier to attempt and complete, thereby promoting an experience

that is welcoming and friendly.

5 : Keep Information Simple

Information should be presented in as clear and logical form as possible. Wayfinding signage

should be both universal and usable for the widest possible demographic and with special

consideration for those without high educational attainment, English language proficiency, or

spatial reasoning skills. It is important to provide information in manageable amounts. Too

much information can be difficult to understand; too little and decision-making becomes

impossible. Information should be provided in advance of where major changes in direction

are required, repeated as necessary, and confirmed when the maneuver is complete.

These core principles combine to create a wayfinding system plan that is both legible and easy

to navigate. These principles will be applied in the Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan to

guide design, placement, and destination logic. By following a clear set of principles an

organized approach to wayfinding design will be achieved.

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Fort Collins Wayfinding System Plan | 3

Technical Guidance A variety of standards and guidelines influence both the sign designs and placement of

wayfinding elements in Fort Collins. This section will address national standards for wayfinding

signage.

Bicycle Signs

AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities

The Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities by the American Association of State

Highway Transportation Officials, or AASHTO, provides information on the physical

infrastructure needed to support bicycling facilities. The AASHTO guide largely defers to Part

9 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD, which is discussed in the

following section, for basic guidelines related to the design of wayfinding systems for bicycles.

Additional information provided by AASHTO regarding wayfinding is as follows:

Many communities find that a wayfinding system for bicycles is a component of a

bicycle network that enhances other encouragement efforts, because it provides a

visible invitation to new bicyclists, while also encouraging current bicyclists to explore

new destinations.

Bicycle wayfinding signs should supplement other infrastructure improvements so that

conditions are favorable for bicycling, as signs alone do not improve safety or rider

comfort.

Guide signs may be used to designate continuous routes that may be composed of a

variety of facility types and settings.

Wayfinding guidance may be used to provide connectivity between two or more major

bicycle facilities, such as a street with bike lanes and a shared use path.

Wayfinding may be used to provide guidance and continuity in a gap between existing

sections of a bikeway, such as a bike lane or shared use path.

Road/path name signs should be placed at all path-roadway crossings to help users

track their locations.

Reference location signs (mile markers) assist path users in estimating their progress,

provide a means for identifying the location of emergency incidents, and are beneficial

during maintenance activities.

On a shared use path, obstacles, including signs, shall be placed no closer than 2’ from

the near edge of the travel way and no more than 6’ away. For pole mounted signs, the

lowest edge of the sign shall be 4 – 5’ above the existing

ground plane.

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Bicycle Sign Standards

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD, is the

national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any

street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel. The

MUTCD was established in order to achieve uniformity and

consistency in traffic control devices (wayfinding signage is

considered a traffic control device) so that information would be

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readily recognized and understood by travelers. Both on-street and off-street bicycle facilities

are required to follow the standards within the MUTCD.

Per the MUTCD, devices should be designed so that:

Size, shape, color, composition, lighting or retro-reflection, and contrast are combined

to draw attention to the devices; simplicity of message combine to produce a clear

meaning.

Legibility and size combine with placement to permit adequate time for response.

Uniformity, size, legibility, and reasonableness of the message combine to command

respect.

Community Wayfinding

The MUTCD also recommends the arrangement and amount of text, or legend, on each section

of each sign:

Guide signs should be limited to no more than three lines of destinations, which include

place names, route numbers, street names, and cardinal directions.

A straight ahead location should always be placed is the top slot followed by the

destination to the left and then the right. If two destinations occur in the same

direction, the closer destination should be listed first followed by the farther

destination.

19 characters (incuding spaces) in titlecase should be considered a maximum length for

a single destination title. 10-14 characters (including spaces) in titlecase should be

considered an ideal maximum length for a single destination title.

Arrows shall be depicted as shown above for glance recognition, meaning straight and

left arrows are to be located to the left of the destination name, while an arrow

indicating a destination to the right shall be placed to the right of the destination name.

In situations where two destinations of equal significance and distance may be properly

designated and the two destinations cannot appear on the same sign, the two names

may be alternated on successive signs.

Bicycle wayfinding signs on any bicycle facility should be placed so as to not distract vehicular

traffic. In general, orientation toward the physically-separated bicycle facility and away from

the street accomplishes this. If the facility is two-way, signs displaying wayfinding guidance for

and facing both directions of traffic should be provided.

Arrow shape, order, and location

Three destinations max, 2” text min. Standard font and title case.

Rectangular shape

Standard icon

Standard color

STANDARD MUTCD COMPLIANT DIRECTIONAL OR DECISION SIGN

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On curved alignments, the angle of placement should be determined by the direction of

approaching traffic rather than by the roadway edge at the point where the sign is located.

Wayfinding signs, which allow for an expression of community identity and pride, reflect local

values and character, and may provide more information than signs which strictly follow the

basic guidance of the MUTCD. Section 2D.50 of the MUTCD describes community wayfinding

signs as follows:

1. Community wayfinding guide signs are part of a coordinated and

continuous system of signs that direct tourists and other road users to key

civic, cultural, visitor, and recreational attractions and other destinations

within a city or a local urbanized or downtown area.

2. Community wayfinding guide signs are a type of destination guide sign for

conventional roads with a common color and/or identification

enhancement marker for destinations within an overall wayfinding guide

sign plan for an area.

Colors

Per the community wayfinding standards, color coding may be used on wayfinding guide

signs to help users distinguish between multiple potentially confusing traffic generator

destinations located in different neighborhoods or subareas within a community or area.

Community wayfinding guide signs may use background colors other than green in order to

Color options

Enhancement marker

Encouragement information

Custom shape

Local Identifier

District color coding

FLEXIBLE DIRECTIONAL OR DECISION SIGN AS PER THE COMMUNITY WAYFINDING

STANDARDS. THE DIRECTIONAL ARROWS ABOVE, WHICH ARE PREFERRED BY

WAYFINDING PROFESSIONALS, ARE NOT CURRENTLY COMPLIANT. ADDITIONALLY, ENHANCEMENT MARKERS ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE TOP OF THE SIGN).

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provide a color identification for the wayfinding destinations by geographical area within the

overall wayfinding guide signing system.

The standard colors of red, orange, yellow, purple, or the fluorescent versions thereof,

fluorescent yellow-green, and fluorescent pink shall not be used as background colors for

community wayfinding guide signs, in order to minimize possible confusion with critical,

higher-priority regulatory and warning sign color meanings readily understood by road users.

The color wheel diagram below depicts colors which are already assigned specific meanings

and thus shall not be used on community wayfinding signs. Green is the standard color for

guide signs. Blue and brown are also used for traveler information including destination and

street name signs. The remaining colors are eligible for use on community wayfinding signs as

long as they are sufficiently different from the assigned colors.

Flexibility in Standards

Both the FHWA and USDOT have made statements in recent years encouraging a flexible

approach in support of facilities for biking and walking:

"...DOT encourages transportation agencies to go beyond the minimum

requirements, and proactively provide convenient, safe, and context-

Allowed Restricted

EACH OF THE COLORS DEPICTED WITH AN “X” ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR USE ON

COMMUNITY WAYFINDING SIGNS. GREEN, BLUE, AND BROWN ARE ACCEPTABLE ON

WAYFINDING SIGNS, AS ARE OTHER NON-RESTRICTED COLORS.

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sensitive facilities that foster increased use by bicyclists and pedestrians of

all ages and abilities, and utilize universal design characteristics…“ (2010)

Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) support for taking a flexible

approach to bicycle and pedestrian facility design. (2013)

While the MUTCD provides standards and guidelines for the design, size, and content of

wayfinding signs, many jurisdictions have implemented unique signs to enhance visibility while

reinforcing local identity. The MUTCD Spectrum figure below shows a range of wayfinding

elements that have been implemented by municipalities around the nation. The range extends

from rigid MUTCD on the left to the more flexible options on the right. Signs which adhere to

the MUTCD basic minimum standards are readily understood by a wide audience, are

economical, and simple to fabricate and maintain. They also are clearly eligible to be

implemented utilizing federal transportation funding resources. Signs that follow the

community wayfinding standards may be more costly to design, fabricate, and maintain,

however they have the added benefits of reflecting local character and identity. If a precedent

has not already been set, the Colorado Department of Transportation should be consulted to

verify that community wayfinding standards may be applied to bikeways while retaining

eligibility for federal transportation funds.

Supplemental Information – Distance and Time

The addition of measuring distance in terms of miles and minutes has been employed by a

number of cities in the United States. Adding distance in familiar units has been found to be an

effective encouragement tool to bicycling. While asking someone to ride their bike two miles

may sound daunting, the thought of riding for twelve minutes is typically approachable. A no

sweat pace of 10 miles per hour or 6 minutes per mile is the typical pace used on wayfinding

signs. This is lower than typical bicycle design speed in order to best reflect and encourage

the riding speed of the casual rider.

Minimum Sign Clearances on Shared-Use Paths MUTCD 9B-1

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National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD)

The NCUTCD is an organization whose purpose is to assist in the development of standards,

guides and warrants for traffic control devices and practices used to regulate, warn and guide

traffic on streets and highways. The NCUTCD has recently recommended changes to the

MUTCD that would formalize the customization of wayfinding signs for shared use paths.

Standards would closely follow guidance provided for community guide signs which allow

custom colors and identifying brand marks.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidance

When wayfinding systems have maps and kiosks in addition to directional wayfinding

elements, it is important to consider technical guidance from the ADA so that signs and other

elements do not impede pedestrian travel or create unsafe situations for pedestrians and/or

those with disabilities. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

provides guidance for accessible design for the built environment. Guidance which should be

considered when designing and placing wayfinding signs includes the following:

Vertical Clearance

Vertical clearance shall be 80 inches

high minimum, or 27 inches maximum

when signs protrude more than 12

inches from the sign post or support

structure.

Protruding Objects

Objects with leading edges more than

27 inches and not more than 80

inches above the finish floor or ground shall protrude 4 inches maximum horizontally into the

circulation path.

Post-Mounted Objects

Where a sign or other obstruction is mounted

between posts or pylons and the clear distance

between the posts or pylons is greater than 12 inches,

the lowest edge of such sign or obstruction shall be

27 inches maximum or 80 inches minimum above the

finish floor or ground.

Required Clear Width

Protruding objects shall not reduce the clear width

required for accessible routes.

Limits of Protruding Objects

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Pavement Markings

Directional pavement markings indicate confirmation of

bicyclist presence on a designated route and where

bicyclists should turn. Especially in urban settings,

pavement markings can often be more visible and can

help supplement or reinforce signage.

On-Street Markings

In Berkeley, CA and Minneapolis, MN, some bicycle

boulevards have large “Bicycle Boulevard” stencils that

take up nearly the entire width of one travel lane.

The images below shows different types of pavement

markings that have been used for wayfinding purposes.

While the shared line marking is currently the only FHWA approved pavement marking shown,

cities have experimented with the other options.

Portland, OR, has turned that chevrons on the top of the MUTCD-standard shared lane

marking (sharrow) to indicate the direction of intended travel (second photo from left in the

four-photo matrix). Notably, this practice is not FHWA approved or eligible for federal funding.

Local transportation engineers are confident that the benefits of the turned chevrons

outweigh the risks. Portland installs standards shared lane markings with federal funds, and

then makes modifications later with local monies to add the directional wayfinding

component.

St. Louis, MO, is currently conducting an FHWA approved experiment regarding the use of

small wayfinding medallions on both on- and off-street bikeways (third image from left). Note:

The City is also no longer using the arrow with the Bike St. Louis logo and text.

Standard Flexible

BERKELEY’S LARGE BICYCLE

BOULEVARD WAYFINDING

PAVEMENT MARKINGS

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Off-Street Markings

Some pavement markings, including off-street shared use path markings can give an identity

to the route and include directional and trip information, including distances or times. While

such markings are not included as traffic control devices within the MUTCD, numerous

agencies around the nation follow such practices.

Sign Enhancements

MUTCD standard street name sign blades

have been enhanced by a wide number of

municipalities around the nation to provide

additional recognition of bikeways.

Enhancements have been achieved either in

the form of supplemental signs and sign

toppers added to existing signs or via graphic

embellishments integrated into new sign

blades.

Green, blue, and brown are all accepted colors

for street name sign blades according to the

MUTCD, as long as colors are used

consistently across the City.

SE Clinton St Sign Topper in Portland, OR

(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland.Org)

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH

CAROLINA

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Sign Topper-shaped one-piece sign on

Kendall Avenue Bike Boulevard in

Madison, WI

Yucca St Sign Topper in Los Angeles,

CA. Both the sign topper (foreground)

and the wider, two-color blade version

(background) can be seen.

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Map Kiosks

Kiosks with area and/or citywide orientation maps, can provide helpful navigational

information, especially where bicyclists may be stopping long enough to digest more

information (i.e. transit stations or stops, busy intersections, trail heads). The use of icons and

high contrasting colors is a good practice which makes maps comprehendible to a wide

audience.

The MUTCD includes a series of symbols which are approved for use on wayfinding signs.

Adding circles that indicate walk and bike times provides encouragement to explore.

Additionally, orienting signs with respect to the audience’s view (or, a heads up orientation) is

considered by wayfinding practitioners to be more intuitive than maps where north is at the

top.

Portland, OR kiosk (left) and map as part of a bicycle parking structure

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Technology

Cyclodeo

Cyclodeo, a Dutch startup company, has created an on-line collection of geo-tagged bike

route videos. The video clips cover several bikeable cities including Amsterdam, Copenhagen,

London, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA. The clips are linked to online maps which allow

internet users to select a route and watch an associated ride. The virtual bike rides allow

potential riders to preview a route they may be interested in riding. Statistics on distance, ride

time, elevation, and travel time are included for reference.

Image: Cyclodeo.com

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Brighton and Hove, England

The Brighton and Hove wayfinding

scheme includes signage, printed maps,

downloadable maps, and a smart phone

app. The wayfinding components are

designed to work together, using a

consistent brand,

visual language, and

mapping aesthetic

across all media.

The free app

includes walking

circles—loops that

show how long it

takes to walk to

various points of

interest from the

user’s current

location.

The colorful map included in the app

displays 3D icons of major landmarks.

There are options to display attractions, shopping, and nightlife destinations.

Images: Applied Information Group

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Bicycle Signage Case Studies

Intertwine Regional Trails (Portland, OR)

The Portland, OR Metro Area’s Intertwine Regional Trail Signage Guidelines can serve as a

resource to guide Fort Collins in planning, designing, and fabricating wayfinding signage along

regional paths and trails. The Metro Regional Government and its partners developed the

manual in response to requests from the public for better uniformity and consistency of

signage along regional trails.

Family of Elements

Off-Street Trail Signs

Located along off-street regional shared use paths or trails to provide directional information,

including trailhead, trail access, and other directional signage.

Trailhead:

Located at major path and trail access points, this sign type includes a map of the entire path

or trail as well as nearby amenities.

Trail Access

Trail Access signs are located at access points where the trail typically meets the street right-

of-way. This sign type identifies the path/trail and mode of travel and may include a facility

map, directions or other information.

Off-Street Shared Use Path Directional

This sign type is located along off-street regional shared use paths to provide directional

information.

Trailhead sign Trail Access sign Off-Street Shared Use Path

Directional signs

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On-Street Bicycle Directional

Located in the street right-of-way to connect bicyclists between the off-street and on-street

facilities.

All Signs

Mile Marker

Mile marker signs aid users with measuring distance traveled. They also provide active

transportation facility network managers and emergency response personnel points of

reference to identify field issues such as maintenance needs or locations of emergency events.

System brand mark, distance in whole number miles or decimal miles. Path or route name and

jurisdiction may be included. They should be placed every ¼ to ½ mile along the network.

Point zero should begin at the southern and westernmost terminus points of a route of path.

On shared use paths, mile markers may be installed on one side of the pathway, back-to-back.

Intertwine Logo Components

The Intertwine logo is used in combination with other off-street regional path and on-street

connection signs and may be added to existing signs as vinyl adhesive or a sign topper to help

uniform the system.

Best Practices

High contrast graphics

Three destinations maximum per sign

Mile Marker sign On-Street Bicycle

Directional sign

Intertwine Logo signs

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Directional/decision sign (left) and Trail Access sign (right). Images: Intertwine Alliance

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Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The Jackson Hole, WY bicycle

network seeks to appeal to a broad

spectrum of riders with safe,

inviting, and convenient routes.

Signs adhere closely to MUTCD

guidance while integrating a

custom logo reflecting the area’s

signature Teton Mountain skyline.

Best Practices

Custom enhancement

marker

Distances given in physical

length and time

Berkeley, California

The City of Berkeley opted to use

non-standard purple signs for its

bicycle wayfinding network. Signs

are painted on both sides with

directional information on one side

and a reassuring logo on the

reverse directed and bicycle traffic

coming from the opposite direction

as a semi-confirmation sign,

indicating that they are still on a

bicycle boulevard.

Best Practices

Unique identifying color

High visual contrast

Custom enhancement marker

Grand Loop Bike Route

wayfinding signage in

Jackson Hole, WY

Channing Avenue

Bicycle Boulevard in

Berkeley, CA

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Bibliography

“Design Guidelines for Bicycle Wayfinding.” City of Oakland, CA, 2009. "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices." Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Department of Transportation, 2009. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Fourth Edition.” American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, 2012. “Wayfinding Signs for Shared-Use Paths.” National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Spring 2014. http://www.ncutcdbtc.org/sponsors.html "United States Access Board." About the ADA Standards. http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-ada-standards

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